See the return of the Andromeda Galaxy

By Ade Ashford

This image of the Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31, also shows its satellite galaxies, Messier 110 (top) and Messier 32 (lower right of M31’s nucleus). Dust lanes between the spiral arms of M31 can be seen in large amateur instruments, but the bright nucleus, M32 and M110 are easy targets for small telescopes. A 65mm f/6.5 refractor and Canon 1100D DSLR were used to capture this portrait of our largest galactic neighbour from rural Norfolk on 29 November 2013. Magnitude +4.5 nu (ν) Andromedae is the blue star in the lower left. Image credit: Ade Ashford.Now that the British Isles are no longer experiencing twilight all night, keen observers are already looking forward to the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ with its dark skies at a sociable hour. Is it too soon to be thinking of autumn? Possibly, but the equinox (23 September) is fast approaching.

During the annual Perseid meteor shower vigil, my thoughts and gaze often turn to one of best deep-sky objects of the approaching season that is now accessible low in the east-northeast by 11pm BST — the Andromeda Galaxy, or Messier 31. By the middle of September, it can be observed at the same position by 9pm.

Some 2.5 million light-years away, M31 is often quoted as being the most distant object that we can see with the unaided eye on moonless nights from locations free of light pollution. Around 220,000 light-years in diameter, M31 is a spiral galaxy about 1.5 times larger than our Milky Way, making it the largest member of the Local Group. It could contain a trillion (1012) stars.

At its stated distance the Andromeda Galaxy has an angular size of about 5 degrees — the same as the apparent field of view of a typical 10×50 binocular. For this reason, when it comes to making observations of M31, very low magnification instruments under very dark skies will often deliver the most memorable views.

Star-hopping to the Andromeda Galaxy
If you wish to see M31 over the next few nights about 11 pm then you will need a clear eastern horizon away from the glare of streetlights. A rural site is always best, particularly where no towns lie to the east. The Moon is currently a very young waxing crescent and will not become obtrusive in UK skies until around Thursday, 20 August. A pair of 7×50, 8×40 or 10×50 binoculars will be a great help, if you own or can borrow a pair.Mid-August is open season for the Andromeda Galaxy, or M31 — arguably one of the best deep-sky objects for Northern Hemisphere observers. This is a quadrant of the sky centred on the east-northeast horizon as seen from the UK at 11 pm BST on 15 August, or 9 pm by the middle of September. The view is 90 degrees wide, or four times the span of an outstretched hand at arm’s length. The red circle represents the field of view of a typical 10×50 binocular for scale. (Click the graphic for a larger view.) AN graphic by Ade Ashford.From the graphic above, get your celestial bearings by first locating the prominent W-shaped asterism of the constellation Cassiopeia that lies half way from the northeast horizon to overhead at 11 pm. For scale, the ‘W’ pattern is about a span-and-a-half of a fist at arm’s length.

Next, divert your gaze to the east, where the so-called ‘Square of Pegasus‘ (though ‘Diamond of Pegasus’ may be more appropriate for its orientation at this time) lies a third of the way from the horizon to overhead. The diagonals of the square are about the span of an outstretched hand at arm’s length.

The left-hand star of the square — magnitude +2 star Alpheratz — is the starting point of our star hop to M31. In a 10×50 binocular, you need to move three fields of view to the left, passing magnitude +3.2 star delta (δ) Andromedae, until you reach magnitude +2 star Mirach.AN graphic by Ade Ashford.Once you are confident that Mirach is in your sights, you need to move ‘up’ about one-and-a-half binocular fields to find the diffuse oval glow that is our destination. Fortunately, there is a convenient line of guide stars — magnitude +3.8 mu (μ) Andromedae and magnitude +4.5 nu (ν) Andromedae — to direct us to M31.

The Andromeda Galaxy is in the same binocular field as nu Andromedae (this blue star is also shown in the astrophotograph at the top of the page). Observers with aligned computerised GoTo mounts can take the fast-track route to M31 by selecting it from the Messier object menu, or by using these J2000.0 coordinates: α = 00h 42.7m, δ = +41° 16′

Once you have the satisfaction of locating the Andromeda Galaxy — and try to grasp that the soft glow in your binocular results from the combined light of a trillion stars — it is sobering to contemplate that M31’s light we perceive now set out on the long journey to Earth at the dawn of humankind.

Reflect, too, on the discovery that the Andromeda Galaxy is approaching our Milky Way at about 68 miles (110 kilometres) per second and the two will collide and merge to form a giant elliptical galaxy, or perhaps even a large disc galaxy. Don’t lose any sleep over it though — it is not going to happen for a further four billion years! Clear skies.

Related Articles

Astronomers were surprised to find a disc-like structure around a hefty, rapidly aging star nicknamed “Nasty 1,” which has never been seen before around a Wolf-Rayet star in our galaxy. The star may represent a brief transitory stage in the evolution of massive stars.

For a long time the formation of protostellar discs — a prerequisite to the formation of planetary systems — has defied theoretical astrophysicists. Now, researchers have made a breakthrough in our understanding of how protoplanetary discs form, demonstrating that chemistry and microphysics are crucial to the fundamental processes underlying star and planet formation.

When our galaxy was born, around 13,000 million years ago, a plethora of clusters containing millions of stars emerged. But over time, they have been disappearing. However, hidden behind younger stars that formed later, some old and dying star clusters remain, such as the so-called E 3. European astronomers have now studied this testimony to the beginnings of our galaxy.

Astronomy Now NewsAlert

Get the latest astronomical news and stargazing tips delivered to your inbox.